6 natural skin care tips for winter

1. Take an oil bath
 

Ayurveda prescribes something known as the Abhyanga Massage. Basically, you must rub oil on your body and leave it for at least 30 minutes so that it can be absorbed by the skin. This full body massage helps to improve blood circulation, makes your skin supple and calms and relaxes your mind. Coconut oil and apricot oil are considered to be best for the Abhyanga Massage, but you can use any other oil too.

 

2. Avoid use of hot water

Hot water bath, though irresistible during winter, is best avoided. It strips your skin of natural oils and can cause itchiness and redness of the skin. That is why; you must go for lukewarm water while taking a bath.

3. Stay away from soap

Soap has a drying effect on the skin and tends to disturb the PH balance in the skin. So replace your carbolic soaps with gentle moisturizing ones. Choose your soap according to your skin type, and if possible replace it with a nourishing Ayurvedic body wash. After bathing, you should also rub aloe vera gel on your body to keep it moist and soft.

4. Gorge on the Greens

   Vegetables which have high water content are essential during winter. They help you digest food soon and cleanse your system too. So include green vegetables as well as carrots, lettuce, cucumber and lemon in your diet.

 

 

 

 

5. Healthy Fats

The most significant factor of Vata dosha is that it dries up your skin. But you can fight the dryness by supplementing your diet with healthy fats. Healthy fats include Omega 3 fatty acids, mono saturated fats and poly saturated fats which are plentiful in nuts, soya bean, tofu, olives, and olive oil and so on. Include these foods in your lunch, as the Vata dosha can be prominently seen during afternoon.

6. Take in Liquids

As explained earlier, your body needs to be hydrated during winter to prevent the vata dosha from prevailing. You can do this by taking in warm liquids at regular intervals. Green tea and masala chai with a dash of lemon and ginger are recommended for winter. They will make you skin radiate and glow from winter and also provide your body with the necessary moisture. Avoid caffeine during winter as it has drying effects on your skin

 

 

Secret celebrity getaways

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  CNTraveller - Secret celebrity getaways

From Necker Island to Jaipur’s Oberoi Rajvilas, here are 7 escapes the stars love

Ever wondered where the paparazzi-plagued celebrities run to when they want to escape prying eyes and the constant scrutiny of shutterbugs. Here are seven fantastic hideaways frequented by celebs, which are well worth visiting.

Where: Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

Who: Richard Branson, Mel Gibson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg

Why: Spend a starry night under the open skies on the idyllic private paradise ­called Necker Island. Bought by Sir Richard Branson in 1978 and converted into a private retreat, the island was available for exclusive hire in 1984.  There are six Balinese style houses and one Temple House, which enjoys a perfect location in the centre of the island and offers fantastic views.  Don’t miss staying aboard a 32-metre (105ft) luxury catamaran, Necker Belle, which features four cabins with breathtaking ocean views.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands (+44 0 208 600 0430; www.neckerisland.virgin.com)From approximately Rs  15 lakh for a minimum stay of 7 nights

Where:The Wakaya Club, Fiji

Who: Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Why: A visit to this private island is an experience in itself. Tucked away amongst Fiji’s 333 islands, this intensely private coral-encircled gem offers 10 super-luxurious residences. The island is an ideal spot for those looking to relax on the beach with intimate picnics, tennis games and spa treatments. Opt to dine under a charming gazebo-like shelter on a deck surrounded by a pool.

The Wakaya Club,Suva, Fiji Islands (+679-3448-128; www.wakaya.com) Rs 1,06,657

Where: The Royal Palm Resort, Ecuador

Who: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Why: Located in the beautiful Galapagos Islands, the delightful Royal Palms Hotel lands you right in the lap of nature. Surrounded by 500 acres of lush, tropical forests, the hotel provides privacy and is an excellent option for the discrete traveller.  Guests have the option of choosing from 10 Villas and four Veranda Studios with spacious double bedrooms, a Jacuzzi and a lovely tropical garden. The service is efficient with a staff-to-guest ratio of 12 to 1 per couple.

The Royal Palm Resort, Km 18 vía Baltra, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, Ecuador(+593 2 25 20 000; www.royalpalmgalapagos.com) Doubles from Rs 23,857

Where: Taj Exotica, India

Who: Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan

Why: Overlooking the spectacular Arabian Sea, the Mediterranean-style Taj Exotica features impressive landscaped gardens, a 9-hole golf course, two tennis courts and five restaurants. The elegant and well-furnished rooms and suites are spacious and cosy.  Be sure to book yourself into the Sea View Villa, which provides striking sea views or the gorgeous Sea View Pool Villa, which has a private pool.

The Getaway Taj Exotica, Benaulim, Goa, India (91-0832 6683333; www.tajhotels.com) Doubles from Rs 8,000

Where: The Gstaad Palace, Switzerland

Who: Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, Robbie Williams, Paris Hilton

Why: Check into the 99-year old hotel nestled in the serene Swiss Alps; you never know who you may bump into. Built in 1913, the glorious Gstaad Palace has 104 beautifully furnished rooms, including 19 Junior Suites and a splendid three-bedroom Penthouse Suite, which comprises a dining room, living room, kitchen, a terrace as well as a private sauna and Jacuzzi. In addition, five gourmet restaurants cater to every need of the palate and a night of dancing is a must at the famous GreenGo nightclub.

Royal Hotel Winter & Gstaad Palace AG Palacestrasse, CH-3780, Gstaad, Switzerland (+41 33 748 50 00/+41 33 748 50 00; www.palace.ch) Doubles from Rs 24,234

        

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Hotel of Doom, 25 years of construction and still counting

It's been 25 years, North Korea's construction of Ryugyong Hotel is still in progress. They're saying that it was set to open in 2010 which didn’t happen. With the news that it is opening soon, the hotel, otherwise known as the 'Hotel of Doom' is far from being ready.

The North Korean government has started the construction of the supposed 105-storey hotel 25 years ago. It was said that this is intended to stand as a symbol of power and prosperity for the North Korean government. A few photos were snapped and published showing the interiors of the hotel. No cables, wiring and proper floorings were evident and it looks like it is still too far from its formal opening. Perhaps the government is still waiting for the time when they can indeed tell the world what the building wants to symbolize - power and prosperity.

(Materials based on Inquisitr.com)